Locomotive stoker



f weien Q'THAN 'LOWER, CE PITTSBURGH, ENNSYLVANI'I.

implication led July 22, 1912. Seral'lifo. S.

The, im'cnion relates to locomotive smileys, and more pmiicularly te mechanism im? timis'cixfiiig ueliicm the tender le the locomotive iie-'box and deliveiing lie salme l5 tlicijcinle. The object. of the invention is 'ive pr'cvide means for Supplying fuel i0 clifm ferent parte cf the iil'c box and distribute it @ver the eniie fuel bed and by means ci i'necl'ianism which encwuclics te @minimum en ilieicsifiee'cl space in the iccomo'uive cab.

This applicalzieiiis in moet part a cuntinuaticei of my zippieation Serial lo. '226,- l0@ 'filed @atelier "15g, 1912 (Patent No. lgil. issued Femumy l5., 1921).

n 'fille :accompanying 'drawings Fig. l is 'n longitudinal. verie'l se'ciion through Eickel rlfieclmiism eonsizr'i'acted ziccoclinglc he i11 'Yeulzion; Fig; 2 is a timnisve'ree section en the line 23m-27 Fig.r l', showing che 'driving and elevgitinp; mechanism; Fig. is :i "vertical longitudinal sectional View though-011e ci" the devices foifrlelifeiring ille 'fuel into the like inox; Fig: 4l is fi. iioiizoiitai section .on llie liuc -i- -L1-. lig'. 3; Fig. 5 .is sectional View liicugh the valve mechanism for suppiyiiig auxism; and l, n (i is: sccioml view of the iiiezmsl im con "filling said valve mechanism,

linkes. en. the liuc @m6, Fig.

ln the flle'wiiigs 'the fiom? deck of 'the locomotive is shown at l, uml e pitioii of the fire lios; at Q., tile latter ,preferably lieing,n provided with i pair of. fue door open-- in localicfl ou egfpesii'e sides' of its lengi himmel center.` Il iudiciitee the fuel hcpper on the teuclei, orcagifyingilie fuel "ac be Supplied i@ lire. bex. which fuel may be,

eitlci: iuii-cE-:mine coal, prepared befoie being vciilei', but gcneialiy is liuc euuicoms'e pzufticles.

'llie 'fuel plissee by gravity through im Opening); 4? in izlge bottom of ilie 'hopper 4l. lo horizontal conduit 'which is locaecl beneath the floor ci. ille beppe? and cxM lends uncleinenili falle (lcci ef *die locame- 4 live. 'in tllis conduit is :i i'ouiilinblc. Shaft E prmidcd with Spiral Temes; which ioim n screw cciiveycif 7 which conveys the Iiuel cr fuel Speciallyl Supplleel to "the 4c cmiiposegl of boii 50 i'mwvarcily ilmmgli ille conduit iowziil'l the lire box. T (infinit is 'pi'ovide-l witlifiii zibuti'ncn' ffl imi.l which the screw com,

Voyer will c n ll'icvlriipge'lumps; alee'm'ili -a evelien. 9 Wiz-im. 'telescopes in'm t-liesccticii 55 l0, icing mmf-cil by." means ef the handle il',

l0 permit opening@ lim iferxcluitiio flisvilenil.

upwardly,between he t'w fue Licei: .epee

cliziigeauy large masses of eae r'otlieir hard material (described encljclmmedfin Patent No. .1,312,858,.1Ssued August' 1.2,

1919); and also with e rotating semen. dem@ viceA consisting of e. foiairiinousl portion l2 'which is surrounded by a foiaminous sleeiie` 3 capable of r'olai'able adustmeiit around l'lxe portion l2 to vary the Sizes of the @penn ings through the screen, Wliichscreen serves 05 t'o separate the fine fireman: the coeri'e' mzi'se rial.' tlie iue materiel dxlpping ,dnvii intoi mi. underneath cond'uit 15, 'alec plcvidecl' with a sci'ew ccnveycr- 1G which feeds the same forwardly and (lciivers Jche same h'ough a' bvancli conduit 1 7 opening through the grate oivthe ire bex, iiileieby said ine material is uncleifeCl-lle 'the iiie. lhe'ccneyOr 1G is.'cliiven irem the coiiveyc; 7, ley means 0l inleimeshiug mais l ami 19 @inthe rcmeuls of saill shuffle, as Shown. All of these parts, and their operai-imi mie .fully descafibed in my Patent N LSGSQJTL granit-)cl February l57 '5.921. :indes the prescnt zipplicntiin is concei'nc ouiy with lille mein condi-lil, hmi the ele'vziling' 21ml disv iriliuiiing' iiicclianism herein uile' descifibecl.. these cl'lici paris need not be desciiliel'l .in

lil)

fwm'clliy the Screwconveyor i to an elevaluglmeciiuilism 'which elevaies it at the rear ef Elie iljelim: i0 ille fuel delivery mech mism?, slmwii gcnei'zelly. .nig 20 incl i loca-ted als to inject the fuely imo alie irc bei; above ille iie at a. p imlity of points lierein. 'T lie elevating ineclmiiism4 .3comprises z1- verticaal'couduii 21,' Wl'iiclil extends efsio't. alle? titl fait! 'Sii ., therein.

yture'of lateral branches 2K6 with` the vertical conduit 21, said detlector being securedto a shaft 3d which extends outwardly through the wall of the conduit and is provided with handle by means of which the position of said detlector can be varied in order to vary the amount ot' fuel going to the two fuel. delivery "devices` f The screw conveyor 7, elevator bar 29. und horizontal conveyor yrods ,27"` are actuated 'from a suitable niotoi", siicli as'a small rotary engine 36, provided with a speed control lever 37 and having its shaft 38 provided With a Worin 39 engaging the `worin Wheel 25 on the Screw conveyor shaft, .sd-'that all parts of the conveying rnecbanisrn are driven simultaneously from the saine so urce.

In order to allow for the usual movements between the locomotive and tender, the rear end of the conduitfi has a sliding connection at 4l. with a fraincAl mounted to pivot at 43 on the bottoni of the hopper; the vertical conduit 2l has a rotary connection at 44 with a collar on the 'forward end of the conduit 5; `and the line fuel conduit. 15 is flexibly connected, by means ot the circu'n'ileren; tially corrugated metal pipe with the conduit 17. These features also are iully dcscribed in luy-Patent No. 1,368.271 above referred to. s

The t'ucl delivery devices 2() are oi a construction, to not only inject the fuel into' the tire boxnibut also to distribute it. laterally The particular devices illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 are ot" the construction ill insti-ated and described in my Patent No.

liti

1,368,27labove referred to and specifically claimed .in my application Serial No. 113,335

tiled August- 19, 1915 (Patent No. Lt-272,v

issued Februaryw, 1921). Each ot these devices comprises the hollow cylindrical casing provided with a .'ertically extending portion et@ through which the fuel is delivered to the casing by the conveying, elevating and distributing*r mechanism hereinbct'ore described. The fuel falls in front of the head d'7 of a hollow piston 48 which slides in the casing 20, and is forcibly impclled into the tire box to inject a charge ot fuel thcrcinto, With a forwardly extending vscoop or shovel 49 movable on the bottom of the-casing 20, which shovel receives the. fuel and carries it during the forward niovcrncnt of the piston.

' pipe 51.

The head 47 is provided The casing 20a is provided with a passage 50l which communicates with ay source of pressure, through the air or steam supply Said passage at its other end corninunicetes with a space 52 Within a hollow cylinder or pipe 53 attached at its outer end to the cap or head 54 which closes the outer end of the casing Q0, andqat its inner end is provided with a circular head 55 provided with a packing 5G on which the c lindricul piston 48 travels. n the retracto position of the piston, the head 47 seats against an annular surface 57 at the outer end of the pipe 53 and head 55, so as to restrict the .area of the back of the head 47 against which the pressure fluid is effective in initiating :the piston stroke, but es soon as the piston 'is moved forwardly slightly the pressure duid is admitted. to a larger area on the outer.

side of said piston head, whereby it is rapid- 'Eil ly moved forwardly until the follovverfhead l' 58 on. the outer endof the piston reaches the cushioning space 59 on the inner face of the head By this means the piston is given a sudden impulsive forward move-- ment, which however' is cushioned at the end of the stroke to prevent a `lheavy blow or knock.

`Nithin the hollow space 52 is a tension spring G0 connected at one end to the piston head 47 and at its opposite end to La plug 61 threaded on'an adjusting screw G2 extending through the cylinde1."hcad 5d,- which spring returns the piston and scoop to initial position afterthe delivery of -eech charge of fuel to the tire box, it being understood that at this timethe space 52 is open to exhaust through the valve mechanism controlling the supply of compressed air to the device.

`For distributing the fuel laterally over the tire bed the piston is provided with one or more laterally movable members. shown as a air of Wings or venes pivotally mountec on short shafts 66 carried by the scoop or shovel 49 adjacent the central longitudinal plane thereof. These wings or vanos are ot curved shape as shown and are provided with outwardly extending arms 67 Whose ends move in grooves or slots 68 in the side walls of the casing 20, the ends of said slots 68u and 68h forming abutmcnts which cngage the arms 67 und oscillate the wings or venes on their pivots.

l"Vhen the piston is in retracted position, the arms 67 engage the shoulders 68 with the vanes in the position shown in Fig. 4, so that all or a portion of the fuel is delivered to the scoop or shovel 49 on the outside of said Wings or venes. At the end ot the inward stroke of the piston or plunger the arms G7 engage the abutment (38 with 'a sudden impact and hence said vanes are given a rapid swinging movement outwardly thereby iinpelling a portion of the fuel Oli llo'

lill) i, easing T5 which only i micgmil willi. Lim missing' :ec-meco i G5 Contact agiiiiise lie inno?. end of the cec- `ing 20, or lie will of the Sie box, which.

tunis lie-no. Siiilicientllg.' .inwardly to again eiiizox lie eosiiig 2G, smid. Wings being coinpletoly moved. to the position shown in lilig. elliy' the cngzigemeni of 'iiei-eims 57 wili the allotments To assisi. iii die fiteizil distribution of the luci is maybe advisable to provide a pose the lieifl il o die pieton is provided with a, limo iiliiiril passage which comniiiiiiceles iviiiiizi passage l, coi-ed. oui', 11i

the scoop' oi shovel and. extending; inwardly ilioi'eoi and having lateral bronches 72 zu ranged izo direct two lateral jets o fluid in opposite iiiicciois. This pasigiigc 1S coioii-oiled. by e spring-pressed 7alie 73 :is fuf4 ly described in interim liei-eiiibefoi'e identified, the ziiijziiigeiiicii: being suoli that when the jplsioii moves oiwaioly 'fluid presure posses through. the ffl and is discharged'liieugii the branch giaoscges ali/'o 7i; may lieve iis ieecwoi. i'iio-veii'ieiii: iiiiiiiool loy :il pio. 73 ioiisvciscly oif pfoegje T0, es; seen iii llico am? fl.

valve iiicclizmisiifi L:

for conlioilim ilie supply iuiil progenie to liie pisoii il is iii-cl iirijimgeil mici :Bigio io. einer Lo iiijecr. iii iiiiifi ille [iro box- :imi lic .fsticiiglli of lie o )iffnl ICE will he. so chosen hm upon ci Hoof: o? iliiicl pre. ure to the proemio 'ifi ilcli'vcicil iiiroiiii'i pzissngcsfl only Upon.lliwligiii; siolif ille pisl'oii.

(lne 'form of suitable Tulio 1i echar controlling clic presione fini :is io piovifle iieii; :iiiil'iieei f ir'iii'ateil mul (lo 5537i, :msi is il. illu EOlc.

vulve "will not lic een cil so ifi-g heil iii my Piment No.

This: volw mcciizii'iigi'zi conig'ifiiscs having :i ffieiu U und two is acheminer i :i mi ive ii'iomlici' vliczifils Ti. iiiifl To euch pioiificil viiii Smell.

"greife violg through leuk pori' Til. Pressure is ppliei' lo ilxe "lizimlici' 'ocwecii alle heads 78 omi 78| by llie supply pipe 5i, end from eeifl eliaiiilieif it per? 1 .1e @asoma-'50 tlii'ougi'ii fewo ports of leading lio r1lie port 80 is; ioiii 80"'. The

.ing piston, limi; i'lie lesti'iccl so mui muy iight stioke is pro-l ifcfl S0 mail 8Ol ifespceiiiwlpg g willi passages.

outer onizlsoi the chamber 76 are closed by in oiieof soii` openings coiiiniiiiiciiting wil. u n pipe 83 ziiicl. the other willi a pipe Eil". The sliding vulve mechanism is -iioi'iimllv iieiifi iii ceiilml. position by wo eompicssioii op 'ings 534%,loeeesl ioeiweeii -tlie plugs il and. the ouei @nels 0i? iio hoods 7S, T5 the len-` Sioii of which Spying-s may be adjusl'ci'l by screwing lie plugs 8l in or out :is required.

@zich .head 789 '78 ec'is is a valve to cover or micove1 its poz't 80 oi 80, and the ouh "aid movement ol-s`ziid heads may lie cmtolleil by threaded stops 85 provided with graduate heads 86 3o-operating with pointers Si" to indi 'nie the position ol snid'sops. By adjusting tlicse stops tlic iiezuls 7B and 75% will uncover the poi-as 80 and 80 ii'iole or loss and hus enable the intensity of 'the ilill'ei'eui strokes of the piston to be "cried lfflieii ille valve stem T7 mid. heads 78 fiiicll 78 move to the left in Fig. 5, the simili port or opening 80 is uncovci'ei, which allows pressure fluid [o flow fiom the inlet 5l to the passage Q30 and heiice to the fuel injectpi'essuie Vluiil Supply is duced. iXi/llico. the valve heads :mol sioni more iii ih@ opposite clixection, o1* tojtlie righi, pori 30a is uncovered, which allows e more rapid [supply of pi'cssur fluid. 'with a -coili'csponclixigly lieawjy srolie.

The iii'owiiicnt of the valve Stem 77 dnd liceale I8 mici 7S may coni/folic@ i i piroiluceii iii fou] suitable iiiaiiiiei', bui, *kik ...['oiy '.ibizliio'ciiigg the 'i' iics: on lle oue? i F llie two liezicln, ciilici oK 'iii'iinielb iiiij llie iii' i'e eli'cctive on one head oi.x by

iiieycirsi'ng' 'limi on iflie other! l? G showsl one ziinuigcmeot of ii'ieciizinismsuitable for 'dus purpose, c* f i n poit Sa enel in which ig; located iiio roll( if." sliefi cfv'iyiog' e worm 91 meshing with :i Worm .Wliecl -}'2 the slmfi; 9 3 of which is jouiiizilciii.. iiioiie Side of lie ces ieg. @ne side oi". easing is pioviclcclovitli mi inwardly iioso' contesting; i-vili one siile face ofthe Worm iiflieel loiiil pioviiled with a. 'iiiviiigii boire communicating; Willi i pipe eomieezccl io the space oii alle ouei* Siiiifeoe of one o the heads, vsay iieziri 78, The otherJ y provided Willi limiilll whose iinnci' cmi contacts with thev other ieee o?? `ille Worm wheel 9"), and which lie e ,melange 9? therethrough coiiimiiiiicui`I ieg Wit-ii the speoc oiilie cui.. 'Z8 tliioiicfli the pipe 83. The wei' u wheel 92 povidecl "ivizll si through paseage 98 eifi'zilged lo register iiiteinntely witliihe paissiiggiee and 97 and thci'eby alternately open to eiiiifust tiie chambers on the' otei 4faces el. the heads 'T8 aiiol 78a;

Saiil mechanism coiiipiising e. fel-ably 'open to the ai'ziiios'plieegicle of ille ceiiig 88 is di oi lie licacl i lli @All

titl

escaneo 4llvlhen the passage 98 is out ot register with both of the passages 95 and 97, communication to the chambers onl the outer faces of the heads 78 and 78 is closed es` cept through the leali ports 'lh so that pres sure Will build up in said chambers from the supply inlet 5l, Each valve head is therefore subjected to the pressure ol a spring and to equal pressure on its opposite faces. so

that the' valve mechanism shown in Fig. 5 lies in central or neutral posltion. lifhen ever the pasasge 98 in the worm wheel comes opposite one o the passages 95 or 97 the chamber on the outside of the corresponding valve head is vopened to exhaust, which al lows the oressure on the inner tace ot' said head to become eli'ective and move the valve, thus openinv one or the other of the ports 80, 80 'to the. source ot pressure. As sooo as the passage 98 moves away from its opening the pressure again builds up behind the heads 78 and' i8 and moves the valve mechanism buck to normal pr sition. The uel injecting piston l? then returns to normal position under the inlluence ot' the spring 6G, the pressure medium behind said piston being exhausted througli a passage 99 in valve head 78|, which communicates in normal position of the valve mechanism with9 a channel in the casing leading to an exhaust opening OO.

'The rotar;y member 9G is held against the face of the worm wheel 92 by a compression spring lOl, which produces o, tight. seal between said Worin wheel at the open ends of the boss 9a and member 9 and prevents ex- -haust from the chambers of the controllingvalve mechanism excepto/hen the opening 98 in the worm wheel is opposite the open'- ing in one of said members. As shown in Fig. 6 the inner end of the opening; 97 in the rotatable member 9G is diametricalh7 opposite the opening 95 inthe boss 94, so that successive strokes of the fuel injecting piston are produced at uniform or regular inter` vals. Member 96, however, is provided with an operating handle 102 by .means of which it muy be turned around the axis of the Worm Wheel 92 so that the intervals het-Ween successive operations of the fuel injecting piston may be varied. By turning said member in the proper direction the time interval precedinga light piston stroke may be made shorter than that preceding a heavy stroke, or vico versa. This enables a larger quantity of fuel to be collected on the piston scoop'before either the light or heavy stroke, so that a larger proportion of the fuel may be fed either to the front or rear of the iirebox.

The mechanism described is of simple construction and occupies a minimum amount of space in the locomotive cab. The liorizontal conveying conduit is located beneath the locomotive cab and there projects up form of the Wings or vanos of the distril1 uthe level of the lire therein, a tender having a fuel hin, a single forwardll'v` feeding conduit receiving from fuel bin, an up standing elevator receiving 'fuel rom conduit and elevating it to a level above the fire, and laterally extending branches receiving the fuel from the upper end o1 said elevator and delivering it to said. pluralittT of feeding; devices.

lo locomotive Stoker mechanism., in'

con'ibination, a ire boxy a plurality o1? devices for feeding' fuel into the nre box above' the level of the lire therein7 a tender llaving a fuel bin, a single forwardly 'feeding conduit receiving from said fuel him. an upstanding elevator receiving fuel from said. conduit and elevating it to a level above the lire, laterally extending branches receiving the vfuel from 'the upper end of said elevator and delivering it to said. plurality of leed ing devices, and means :for varying the rela tive amounts of fuel supplied to said several feeding devises.

3. ln locomotive Stoker mechanism, in combination, a lire box, a plurality of' devices lfor feeding fuel into the fire box above the level of the lire therein7 a tender having a fuel bin7 a single forwardly feeding conduit receiving from sai-:l tue-l bin, an ug standing elevator receiving fuel from said conduit and elevatingy it to a level above the tire, laterally extending branches receiving -the fuel from. 4the upper end olf said elevator and delivering it to said plurality7 of Yfeeding devices, each of said feeding devices incluolingl an oscillatory vanemounted on a vertical axis and arranged to deliver the fuel into the lire box and scatter the same over the lire, and means to impart a rapid fuel impelling movement 'to said vane. n

l. ln a locomotive Stoker mechanism, in, combination? a lire box, a plurality cideift? vices for feeding` fuel into tbe fire boxabove tlie level of the fire therein, a tender having n fuel bin, :1 single forwardly feeding Con- (luitreceivingT from said fuel Join, an upstandingr elevator receiving fuel from said Conduit and elevating it to u level above tbe fire, laterally extending branches receiving tbe fuel from tlie upper end of said elevator and delivering' it to said plurality of feeding devices, ineuns'for varying the relutive amounts ofA fuel supplied to Said several feeding devices, each of said feeding-devices including n horizontal oscillating delivery vane arranged to deliver the fuel into the fire box and scatter tbe same laterally therein,4 und meuns for in'iparting rapid fuel impelling movements to said oscillatory, vane.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hnind.

' NATHAN M. LOWER. 

